Dirigible airship



June 3 1924. 1,496,416 H. E. HONEYWELL f DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 4. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 3 1924. l 1,496,416

H. E. HONEYWELL.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed Nov. 4, 1921v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3, 1924.

HARRY E. HONEYWELL, or CLAYTON, MISSOURI.

DIRIGIBLE Amer-LIP.

f Application filed November 4, 1921. seriai No. 512,882.

To all ywhomit may concern."

Be it known that I, HARRY E. HONEY- wnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clayton, St. Louis County, 'State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Dirigible Airship, of which thetollowing is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to dirigible airshi s of the lighter thanair type.

.n obj-ect of tlie invention is to provide an improved dirigiblevairship*embodying many or all of the improvements hereinafter disclosed, designed and arranged to obtain the results for which they are provided` Some ot the more important improvements embodied yin the present invention are a gas bag securely attached to the keel oi' cradle ofthe airship; a rigid nose or point at the forward end of the airship means for connecting the controls and the propellers in the wake andy inthe center ofresistance; a net to take the load attached to the frame work and'constructed in compartments to confine the gas bags and the air bags; separate gas bagswithin the net compartments; separate air bags within the net compartments below the gas bags; an air-tight tire proof and water proof fabric over the gas bag within an air passage around the gas bag 'for the circulation of warm 0r cool air to expand oi' to contract the gas; a sun shade and temperatureprotector for the gas which may be designated as a thermossystem; tubing frame work serving as containers for gasoline,r water. oil and gas; iiieans for rendering the frame flexible or rigid as desired; a lower tubing serving as a part oi the trame workfor containing gasoline. oil and water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dirigible airship in which the improvements mentioned are combined and arranged in a way to obtain maximum efficiency.

Other objects will appear 'from the following description. reference being made to the drawing iu which- Fig. l is a side elevation', parts being in section showing one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. is a front end elevation.

Fig. is a rear end elevation.

Fig 5 is a vertical cross sectional view.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a detail Vof the invention comprising' valve for the admission of A,air from the air bag into the air jacket. y y

Fig. 7 is a view showing one'ot the air scoops fonforcingairinto the air bags.

Fig. 8 is a' view showingone or' the connections in the 'frame' work for obtaining 'rigidity or flexibility a'sf'desired.

In the embodiment of the invention shown tlieframe work is made up of sections ot' tubing `divided into compartmentsor containers t0 Contain gasoline, water and oil,

the upper part of the tubing frame work being arranged tocontain gas under com- H pression for delivery into the bags when and as needed. The section of tubing l forming the lower part of the frame work is dividedinto containers oi` compartments .of the trame woi'k'supp'orts 4, also preferably made of tubing, carry the ypropellers 5. Y

The propellers 0, near the :Forward end of f.

the frame work, are near the sides of the I air ship and are 'operated b v driving connections 6 from a powerfplant or engine T.

The lower tubing 1 is connected with the'.

uplwrtubing 2 of the trame work infront ot the engineer power plant 7 by an inclined section oftubin'g 8. The rear end of the tubingl is connected with the rear end otth'e tubing 2 by an inclined section 'ol' tubing 9. An engine oi' power rplantfl() `supportei'l near-the connection of the tubing l with the tubing 9 drives an air propeller 'll directly below 'the longitudinal axis of the air ship. The vrudders 12` are operatively supported at Athe rear end of the airship so that the propeller il blows thereon and largely 'reduces thefriction and drag ot the air against the rudders.

The tubingr sections 8 and 9 aredesigued and arranged to contain fuel gasoline whichwill flow by gravity to the engines. The intermediate sections of tubing 1 are de'- sigiied and arranged to contain water and seal.

oil for use in operating the engines, or 'for other purposes.

rlhe car 13 Yfor the passengers, baggage, etc., is supported about midway of the torward and rear ends of the frame and the capacity thereof is in proportion to the general construction and arrangement of the airship. Passages 14 are provided from the car 13 to the engines 7 and 10, said pasu sages being guarded by side rails or ballusters.

The sections of tubing may be of any desired length and are united by unions capable of adjustment to obtain the desired rigidity for flight and to obtain the desired flexibility to alight, so thatV in alightmg the framing will not be subjected to the strains and stresses to which rigid frames of lighter than air a-irships are subjected. This is an important feature of the invention for it is a fact that heretofore many of the large airships of the rigid frame type have been greatly damaged `in alighting, due to the fact that they were not provided with any practicable means for obtaining flexibility to prevent such damage. Furthermore, the airships of the rigid frame type have ordinarily been constructed of angular metallic members which do not possess the strength oftubing and which are wholly incapable Vof' serving as containers for supplies of water, oil and fuel gasoline, or for reserve supplies of gas. It has been necessary heretofore to load the airship with containers for these supplies which, in addition to the weight of the angular framing, made the airship unnecessarily heavy, cumbersome and inflexible.

A form of the connection between the sections of tubing for obtaining rigidity in ceived within a. socket 16 of the adjacent section. The socket 16 is provided with a circumferential flange 17 from which an annular flange 18 extends. Packing 19 is pressed between the annular flange 18 and the ball 15 to obtain a perfect seal and to prevent leakage of the contents of the tubes. A ring 20 having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the ball 15 bears against the ball and has an annular flange 21 fitting within the annular flange 1S and holding the packing 19 compressed in proper position to maintain a perfect Screw bolts 22 pass through holes in the ing 2O and engage in threaded holes in the flange 17 and serve as clamping devices to draw the parts together and to hold them firmly clamped. Thus when rigidity is desired the screw bolts 22 are tightened and when flexibility is desired, as for landing,

.the screw bolts are loosened sufficiently to give the parts proper play so that the joints may bend in conformity with the surface on which landing is being made, thereby preventing any of the parts of the framing from being subjected to the strains to which they would otherwise be subjected.

The cordage net 23 within which the gas compartments are contained is firmly secured to the upper tubing 2 and has net partitions 24 arranged vertically at intervals. Between each pair of the partitions 211 a gas bag compartment 25 is removably located completely filling its space in the cordage net when inflated.

An air-tight fire proof and water proof fabric acket 26 has its edges secured to the upper tubing 2 ot the frame work and, eX- cept for the lower side of the gas container, completely encloses said container. The capacity of the `fabric jacket 26 is somewhat greater than the capacity of the net 23 so that there is provided a space within the jacket 26 and between the gas bag for air. The jacket serves as a sun shade and temperature protector to the gas and by properly controlling the air within the jacket or passing between the jacket and the gas bag the expansion and contraction of the may be controlled, irrespective of variation in the temperature to which the airship is subjected. Tie strings 27 unite the jacket 26 with the. cordage net 23 so as to hold them in proper concentric relation when the gas bag is filled with gas and the jacket is filled with air.

A sepa ate removable gas bag 28 is located in each compartment of the cordage net and below each gas bag 28 and in the same compartment of the cordage net an air bag or compartment 29 is located. Valves 30 in connection with the air bags or compartments 29 are arranged and adapted to discharge air therefrom into the space within the air jacket 26, a. number of safety or eX- haust valves 31 being provided at the top of the air bag to discharge air therefrom when it is desired to obtain or maintain a circulation of air through the air bag to cool the gas in the gas bags, or for other purposes.

APipes 32 (Figs. 1 and 5) from the pumps of the engines 7 and 1() open into the respective air bags 29 so that either warm or cold air may be pumped into the air bags to meet the requirements as to temperature. The air bags fill the space between the upper sides of the frame comprising the tubing 2 and by unlacing the cordage net along the lace line 33 the air bags and the gas bags may be individually and separately removed and replaced.

The adjacent contacting walls of the gas bags 28 and the air bags 29 constitute fleXi ble diaphragms so that when t-he gas bags are fully inflated there will be a minimum volume of air in the air bags, and when the gas in the gas bags becomes 'reduced the air bagswill expand. In case of reduction or loss of gas in any of the gas bags the supply of gas therein may be replenished from the ysupply of compressed gas withinf'the upper tubing` 2. For this purpose passages 34 from the tubing are provided,

said assaoes havin valves 35 desi ned and adapted to be opened to admit gas from Within each scoop an opening 40 into the air bag is provided. Obviously when a scoop is held open during flight of the airship air `will be takenl by the scoop and caused to enter the airbag ythrough the "opening 40. However, the scoops will be closed when desired, the springs 39 serving to raise the loops 38 to hold the forward edges of the scoops into contact with the air bags in front of the holes 40. For opening the scoops flexible connections 4l are provided, the same leading tc a point convenient for operation.

The forward endfof the gas bag is enclosed within a rigid pointed frame comprising frame members 42 diverging` from their point of union to a connection'with 'a hoop frame 43. The frame members 42 and 43 are covered by an air-tight fire proof and water proof 'fabric which, `if desired, may be the same as the air jacket 26 anda continuation thereof. By reference to Fig. 1T

an important feature o f the invention will be noted, the same comprising the arrangement of the pointed extremity of the airship.

By reference to Fig. l' it will be seen and rigild for flight, a gasbag for supportlongitudinal axis thereof. By tliisconstructhat the point of the airshi'p isbelowv the tion and arrangement I am Aenabled to obtain and to maintain practically perfect control. By this arrangement downward inclination of the forward end of t/he airshipis pre vented when stationary or moving slowly in the air, and the control of the airship in ascending or descending is more easily maintained. l

From the foregoing it'I will be seen that my invention obtains all of its intended objects and purposes.y Most of the serious objections and defects of other airships are avoided and practically all of the structural deficiencies are overcome. airship is muchvmore easily controlled and does not include the unnecesseary weight found in preceding types of, airships.

Itis apparent that the construction and peller.

In addition, the

arrangement of the parts and the mecha-` nism may be widely varied without departure' from the nature and principle of the invention, and Without destroying or losing the advantages of the invention. I contemplate such variations as may be found useful or eX- pedient to increase the ystructural and operative efficiency ofthe air-ship and do not limit myself in unessential particulars, or

otherwise, except as pointed out in the appended claims.k

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e y `l. In an airship, a frame, having longitudinal side members andconnections uniting them, mea-ns for rendering the frame ieXible for landing and rigid for flight, and ya gas bag for supporting the side members of the frame in flight.

2. In an airship, a frame, having longitudinal side members and connections uniting them, means for rendering the side members of the frame flexible for landing and rigid for flight, a` gas bag for supporting the'frame in flight, and a rigid pointed frame enclosing rthe forward end ofthe gas bag.

3. In an airship, a frame, having longitu-` dinal side members and connections uniting them, means for rendering the side members of the frame flexible for landing and rigid for flight, a gas bag for supporting 'the frame in flight, and a'rigid pointed frame enclosing the forward end of the gas bag and having yits point below the longitudinal axis `of the gas bag. f f

4l. An airship, comprising a frame, rendering the frame flexible for landing and rigid for flight, a gas bag kfor lsupporting the 'frame in flight, propellers at the sides of the forward end of the frame, and a 'propeller hear the rear end of the frame ybelow the longitudinal axis of the airship.

5. Anairship, comprising frame, means rendering the' frame flexible for landing ing the `frame in flight, propellers at the sides of the forward end'of the frame, a propellerfnear therear endof the `frame below the longitudinal axis of the airship, and rudders in the wake r'of the rear pro- 6. An airship ycomprising a gas bag, a-

'frame composed of pivotally, united sectionsy of hollow tubing affording eXibility in landing and rigidity in liight and divided means into compartments, pipes for conducting gas from said tubing to said gas bag, and valves controlling theH passage through said pipes. p y

7 In an airship, a frame comprising separate sections of hollow tubing, means con-Q necting said sections to obtain flexibility in landingand 'rigidity in flight. a gas bag vconnected withthe frame, an air jacket enof gas p .closing the gas bag, andmeans for forcing leb klu

heated orcold air as desired intoy said air. jacket.

8. ln an airship., a frame comprising separate sections of hollow tubing, means connecting said sections to obtain flexibility in landing and rigidity in `flight, a gas bag connected with the frame, an air jacketenclosing the gas bag, means'for forcing heated or cold air as desired into said air jacket, and a series of air compartments below the gas bag.

In an airship, a gas bag, a frame composed of pivotally united sections of tubing, a netting enclosure connected with the frame, fabric partitions within and dividing the enclosure into separate bag receiving spaces, gas bags in said spaces, an air jacket enclosing said gas bags, means for forcing heated or cold air as desired into said air jacket, and a device controlling the passage of air from said air jacket.

10. An airship, comprising a frame, power and propeller mechanism supported by the frame, a cordage net attached to the frame, vertical cordage partitions dividing the cordage net into separate bag receiving spaces, and a separate flexible removable gas bag in each of said bag receiving spaces` 11. Jn airship comprising a frame, acordage net attached to the frame, cordage partitions dividing the net into separate bag receiving spaces, a flexible removable gas bag in each of said bag receiving spaces, an air jacket enclosing said gas bags, and means for forcing heated or cold air as desired into said jacket.

12. An airship, comprising a frame adapted to contain gas, power and propeller mechanism supported by the frame, agas bag for supporting the frame and composed of separate flexible removable compartments, means for delivering gas into said compartments respectively from the sources of supply in the frame, and a separate air bag below each gas bag.

13. An airship, comprising a frame adapted to contain gas, power and propeller mechanism supported by the frame, a gas bag for supporting the frame and composed of separate flexible removable compartments, means for delivering gas into said compartments respectively from the sources of supply in the frame, a separate air bag below each gas bag, and means for delivering air into the air bags respectively during flight.

14. An airship, comprising a frame adapted to contain gas, power and propeller mechanism supported by the frame, a gas bag for supporting the frame and composed of separate flexible removable compartments, means for delivering gas into said compartments respectively from the sources of supply in the frame, a separate air bag below each gas bag, and means for delivering cool or warm air from the power mechanism into the air bags.

15. An airship, comprising a frame, a gas bag composed of separate gas compartments, a netting enclosing the gas bag and connected with the frame, Knetting partitions separating the gas compartments from each other, and a number of air bags below the gas bag compartments and exerting upward pressure against the under side of the gas compartments.

1G. An airship, comprising a frame, a gas bag composed of separate gas compartments, a netting enclosing the gas bag and connected with the frame, a number of air bags below the gas bag compartments, and an air-tight fire proof and water proof fabric covering the gas bag and the netting and having its side and edges connected with the frame and forming an air space between the gas bag and the cover.

17. An airship, comprising a frame, a gas bag composed of separate gas compartments, a netting enclosing the gas bag and connected with the frame, a number of air bags below the gas bag compartments, an air-tight tire proof and water proof fabric covering the gas bag and the netting and having its side and edges connected with the frame and forming an air space between the gas bag and the cover, and connect-ions between the covering and the netting holding them relatively centralized.

18. An airship, comprising a frame, a gas bag composed of separate gas compartments, a netting enclosing the gas bag and connected with the frame, a number of air bags below the gas bag compartments, an air-tight fire proof and water proof fabric covering the gas bag and the netting and having its side and edges connected with the frame and forming an air space between the gas bag and the covering, and means for admitting air into the space between the covering and the gas bag.

19. `An airship, comprising a frame, a gas bag composed of separate gas compartments, a netting enclosing the gas bag and connected with the frame., a number of air bags below the gas bag con'ipartmcnts, an air-tight fire proof and water proof fabric covering the gas bag and the netting and having its side and edges connected with the frame and -forming an air space between the gas bag and the covering, connections between the covering and the netting holding them relatively centralized, and means for admitting air into the space between the covering and the gas bag.

20. An airship, comprising a gas bag, a frame composed of sections of tubing forming compartments adapted to contain supplies, and connections between the sections of tubing adjustable to obtain characteris- CII tics of rigidity in flight and flexibility in landing.

2l. An airship, comprising a gas bag, a

frame composed of sections of tubing form? j the air jacket, air bags below the gas bag,

power mechanism, means for forcing air into the air bags from the power mechanism, and means for admitting air s. into the air jacket from the air bags.

An airship, comprising a gas bag, an air jacket surrounding the gas bag, air bags below the gas bag, power mechanism, means for forcing air into the air bags from the power mechanism, and means for admitting air into the air jacket from the air bags.

24. An airship, comprising a gas bag, a frame supported by the gas bag, an air jacket surrounding the gas bag, air bags in the framebelow the gas bag, means for admitting air from said air bags into said air jacket, and air scoops for delivering air into the air bags during flight.

25. An airship, comprising a gas bag, a frame supported by the gas bag, an air jacket surrounding the gas bag, air bags in the frame below the gas bag, air scoops for delivering air into the air bags during flight, and means for delivering air from the air bags into the air jacket.

26. An airship, comprising a gas bag, a

frame supported by the gas bag, an vair jacket surrounding the gas bag, air bags in the frame below the gas bag, means for admitting air from the air bags into the air jacket, air scoops for delivering air into the air bags during flight, and an air exit valve n for discharging air from the air jacket.

27. An airship, comprising a number of netting compartments, a separate gas bag in each ofsaid compartments, a separate air bag in each of said compartments below and exerting upward pressure against the under sides of the gas bags, and a frame supported by the netting. y

28. An airship, comprising a'number of netting compartments, a separate gas bag in each of said compartments, a separate air bag in each of said compartments below the gas bags, a frame supported by the netting, scoops for delivering air into the airbags during Hight, and means for opening and closing said scoops.

29. An airship, comprising a number of separate gas bags, a frame supported by the gas bags, an air jacket enclosing the gas bags and connected with the frame,y a number of air bags below the gas bags, means for forcing heated or cold air as desired into said air bags, and means for admitting air from the air bags into theair jacket. y

30. An airship, comprising a frame work, a netting enclosure connected with the frame work, partitions within( and dividing lthe netting enclosure into separate bag receiving spaces, gas bags in said spaces, an air jacket enclosing said gas bags, and means for forcing heated or cold air as desired into said air jacket. I

HARRY E. HON Y W ELL. 

